The Putnam competition, which began in 1938, is designed to stimulate a healthful rivalry in mathematical studies in the colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The problems on the exam cut across the bounds of various mathematical disciplines, and are often self-contained problems that do not fit into standard categories. In a typical year, the problems are so challenging that the national median individual score is zero. Last year, Hamilton posted a team score of 32 points, which led to a national ranking of #54, its second highest national ranking on record. Results from this year’s exam will be announced in March of 2013.